Loose-leaf binder.



N0. 689MB. Patented Dec. l7, I90l.

F. X. MUDD.

LDUSE LEAF BINDER.

(Application filed June 25, 1901.) (In Modal.) ZSMMs-fiheat I.

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No. 689,ll0.

F. X. MUDD.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

(Application filed June 25,1901.) (In llodal.)

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FRANK X. MUDD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Loose-LEAF BINDER.

SPEGIFIGAZ'IQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,110, datedDecember17, 1901. Application filed June 25,1901. Serial No. 65,919. .Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK X. MUDD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Loose-Leaf Binders, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to automatically-lockingadjustablebinders; and my primary object is to provide a practical locking devicewhich will operate to keep the binder-sections firmly connectedregardless of the degree of separation thereof and of the state offullness of the binder.

My invention is illustrated in its preferred form in the accompanyingdrawings, in which-- Figure l is an inner perspective view of the lowerback section; Fig. 2, a similar view of the upper back section; Figs. 3and l, enlarged broken longitudinal sections of the binder, taken asindicated at the corresponding lines of Fig.1; Fig. 5, a broken sectiontaken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 4; Figs. 6 and 7, sections taken asindicated at the corresponding lines of Fig. 4:, and Fig. 8 a key forunlocking the locking device.

A represents an upper cover-section; B, a lower cover-section.Preferably there are employed an upper clamping-bar A in connection withan angle-iron A and a lower clamping-bar B in connection with anangle-iron B The iron A has a forwardly-turned flange a, to which thebar A is attached, a downwardly-turned flange a, which forms a portionof the rear wall of the binder, and end flanges a formed with guidegrooves a The angle-iron B has a forwardly-turned flange b, to whichthebar B is attached, an upwardly-turned flange l), which forms aportion of the rear wall of the binder, and end flanges 19 which engagethe grooves a The two angle-irons telescope with each other, as appearsclearly from Figs. 3 and 4. Projecting downwardly from the flange a aretubular studs or posts a which telescope with smaller tubular posts N,which project upwardly from the flange Z). Confined within said hollowposts are coil-springs 12 which tend to keep the cover-sectionsseparated.

Depending from the flange a of the upper angle-iron and connected withthe flange 0 thereof is a sheath O,-comprisinga curved orhalf-cylindrical front portion 0 and divergent sides 0'. Within saidsheath is a stud C, journaled in the flange a of the upper angleiron,said stud being provided at its upper end with a rigidly-attachedkey-receiving head 0 which is countersunk in the upper surface of theflange a and is provided with a projection 0 which moves in ahalf-annular groove 0, with which the flange a is provided. As shown inFig. 7, the stud O has a curved surface 0 flanked byrearwardly-convergent surfaces 0 thelatter surfaces being provided, asshown in Fig. 5, each with a series of indentations, the indentations ofone row being staggered with relation to the indentations of the otherrow. vided at its lower extremity, on one portion of its cylindricalsurface 0 with an indentation 0 The indentations have abrupt shouldersat their lower portions, as shown.

Projecting upwardly from the flange b of the lower angle-iron andconnected with the flange 1) thereof isa sheath D, having a curved frontwall (1, flanked by rearwardly-divergent walls d. Pivoted to the innersurfaces of the divergent walls (1 are spring held pawls 61 The pawls (Zare located in the same horizontal plane at or near the upper end of thesheath B and engage the indentations on the divergent surfaces 0, thepawls alternating in effectively locking the upper clamping bar againstwithdrawal. The binder -sections are suitably covered with leather orcloth cemented in place, as shown. The key-receiving head a of the studO is provided with perforations, as shown, for receiving the key.

The manner of use will be readily understood by those skilled in theart. The leaves to be bound are suitably perforated or notched at theirbinding-margins to receive the bindlug-posts and the central sheaths ofthe looking device. Any desired number of leaves are put in place andthe upper cover-section pressed downwardly, whereupon the pawls d serveto prevent retraction. Owing to the arrangement of the pawls andnotches, one of the pawls will always be in position to engage a notch,thereby preventing any looseness. When desired, the stud C may be turnedthrough the medium of a key till the Said stud U is further propawls dengage the cylindrical surface 0 of said stud, whereuponthe upperbinding-section can be lifted till the notch c is engaged by one of thepawls. This prevents entire separation of the sections. When desired,however, the key may be again employed to disengage the notch c from thepawl with which it chances to be in engagement, and thereupon thebinder-sections may be entirely separated. The ends of the curved groove0 serve as stops for the projection 0 When the projection c is at oneend of said slot, the pawls 01 will engage the notches on the surfaces0, provided the upper cover-section is at the right height, and when theprojection c is at the other end of the slot 0 the pawls are in positionto engage the surfaces 0 one of the pawls being then in position toengage the notch 0 when the same is encountered. Assuming the notch c tobe engaged by one of the pawls, the parts may be disengaged by returningthe projection c to its first position, whereupon the pawls willencounter the smooth surface above the rows of indentations on thesurfaces 0.

As appears from Figs.1, 3,and 4,the flanges a and b are reinforced orstrengthened at their central portions to prevent fieXure. This isaccomplished either by making the flanges 1. In a loose-leaf binder, thecombination of two adjustably-connected clamping-bars, a sheathconnected with one of said bars and provided with two pawls, and arotatable stud connected with the other of said bars and provided over aportion of its surface with indentations with which said pawls engage,said pawls having such location with reference to the indentations as toserve alternately in effectively locking the parts together,substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of two adjustably-connectedclamping-bars, two pawls supported from one of said bars and havinglocking surfaces at the same height, and a rotatable stud'connected withthe other of said bars and provided with two convergent surfaces bearingtwo rows of indentations, the indentations of one row being staggeredwith relation to the indentations of the other row, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of two adjustably-connectedclamping-bars, a sheath projecting upwardly from one of said bars,saidsheath having two rearwardlydivergent Walls, pawls pivotally connectedto said divergent walls within the upper end of said sheath, a sheathprojecting downwardly from the other clamping-bar, and a rotatable studwithin said sheath having two forwardlydivergent surfaces, each equippedwith a row of indentations, the indentations of one row being staggeredwith relation to those of the other row, said sheaths having telescopicconnection, substantially as described.

FRANK X. MUDD.

In presence of- D. W. LEE, ALBERT D. BAooI.

